Comments on: Every Man Needs Adventure

By: Andrus

Andrus — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:17:11 +0000

Good article and it is something I have been living for the last 8 years. I can say that I have done everything on the list aside from Sky Diving and riding across the US (though I have walked across Spain)
I do work as a tour guide so I’ve done most of these things in the course of a days work, which makes it even better because I get paid to do things other people pay for. I know I’m very lucky to have found a job at a young age that has given me the opportunity travel and get involved in many wacky adventures and shenanigans.

By: William

William — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:02:55 +0000

I’ve talked with a few people about it, and I’ve determined that my generation (I’m 22) lacks adventure. Rather, lacks a crucible to make us men.
Most generations had a war to shape them and force them into manhood. Most of my generation’s never left the comfort of our own cities or states.
To supplement that, I am planning (but only roughly planning) a cross country motorcycle trip. I’m taking a cook stove, tent, sleeping bag, and hopefully will get a shower once a week.

By: OLDGUY

OLDGUY — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:17:13 +0000

Adventure is the key to looking forward to the next day! The article woke up that old spirit that was lost in being a family man. You know, raising kids, school PTA, Little League, paying attention to the wife… in general keeping the family happy. All of it very rewarding but under all that lies the suppressed desire to find excitement and accomplish some feat. Always liked the outdoors (Daniel Boone was my hero as a kid) so I got into backpacking which evolved into packing the minimum and living off the land. Then it was whitewater canoeing and kayaking ( canoeing is much harder… no room for error). Then SCUBA diving. Then I decided to lean to fly. Then… it goes on and on. All of them became a passion for several years, but after a while they became old and it was off to the next adventure. I found that during the quest that ones energy level increases dramatically over the hum drum “work, home, chores, bed” life. Its the mental aspect of anticipation and excitement that seemed to create the energy. I was a much better father, employee and husband when I was engrossed in my adventures. Call it ADD or whatever but it made me feel alive and positive about the future. Something a man, with all his associated responsibilities, needs!

By: kasper

kasper — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:34:18 +0000

By the way, a great book on this theme is Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who wrote the Little Prince. Autobiographical book about flying the mail over North Africa, taking part in the Spanish civil war… all kinds of adventurous shenanigans…

By: kasper

kasper — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:29:32 +0000

It’s definitely better to have a holiday where you do something than just sit aimlessly on the beach. For those in Europe that can get there cheaply, I went on the best learning to surf holiday ever in Fuerteventura in the Canaries. The island’s small enough that if the waves aren’t right on one side, the teachers’ll just drive you to where the surf is right.

Also volunteered at a vulture sanctuary in Croatia last summer, and it’s a win/win situation- the holiday is cheap as you are volunteering so bed and board are subsidised, and they give you stuff to do so you never get bored!

By: Zerobomb

Zerobomb — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:15:21 +0000

Adventure does not have to be something that far from the ordinary, as G. K. Chesterton reminds us:

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

By: Tim Murphy

Tim Murphy — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:22:59 +0000

Well written article. Every man needs adventure. Adventure is all around us. You can look for and find adventure in even the smallest, everyday things. In my evening walks (they used to be runs, but the knees have a few issues) my mind and eyes are always taking in my surroundings; the beauty of God’s creation. I’m always looking for wildlife and check this out, over the last several months have discovered bear scat in the street! It seems that this local bear likes the warmth of the asphalt better than the cool earth to do his business on. I have the opportunity to lake kayak as well and every trip out, whether 20 minutes or severeal hours, is an adventure with fish, turtles, ducks, geese, beaver and otters. Nothing has to be mundane. There can be adventure tucked into every day if we keep our mind and our senses engaged and on the lookout. Take in the small adventures every day and plan and execute on the big ones.

By: Rob VB

Rob VB — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:43:50 +0000

I must be pretty lucky- my wife has given me the opportunity to backpack, rock climb, kayak, fish, ride my motorcycle for weeks on end.

She recognizes that I need adventures to sharpen the sword and be effective at work.

I am married to the best wife ever!!!!!!

And she has a great rack and ass to boot!

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Raoul Duke

Raoul Duke — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:03:37 +0000

@acooper –

“wife only lets me…”
“Wife would never let me…”

i am not trying to be obnoxious here; all i’m saying is that i think i have been in situations where i thought something about somebody else which turned out to not be entirely true once a discussion was started and the other person listened to my concerns, and i tried to not assume how the other person would react. my hope for us all is to be optimistic about our relationships and to be able to be the one to step up and voice our concerns in life and ask for help in finding ways to address them together. i know i need to be better at that. i know i’d like to find ways to find time to get off my ass and out the door.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:15:45 +0000

Solid. We have forgotten about adventure these days. If anyone wants to do something really amazing, go to New Zealand for a month. I did, and it blew me away. Hiking in the most beautiful scenery on Earth, bungee jumping, sky diving, sheep herding, and so much more. Unreal.
Great article.

By: acooper

acooper — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:20:30 +0000

I totally agree. I am fairly content with my life but I often find myself daydreaming about adventure. I don’t think I took advatage of my late teens/early 20’s like I should have. All the adventurous things I want to do are coming to me now that I am in my mid 30’s, married with kids & not really making enough money to spend on things that are not essential to the family.

I was a boy scout until I was 17 and although I had alot of fun and did some cool things, I thought it was lame and embarrassing and probably did not get everything out of it that I could have. If I had it to do again I would have been more into it & I long for the adventure scouting had to offer.

In my late teens and twenties I was in school & working & hanging out with my friends and did not do all the things I could have. I kept putting them off and now that I am where I am at in life I can’t really persue adventre the way I would like.

I want to camp, hike & explore but I have no close male friends & the kids are little. Wife would never let me go by myself. I used to do fencing before I was maried, for about 5 years, but I had to quite after I got married because it was very expensive & time consuming. I started playing paintball after I got married, but it is expensive and time consuming so my wife only lets me go a few times a year. I would like to ride a bicycle but my wife always wants me to “hurry” so I can be home to help with the kids so I can’t do that.

Most of my adventure these days is through reading, TV & video games.

By: Avi

Avi — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:28:38 +0000

There is something about climbing a mountain. It doesn’t have to be a giant mountain, and in fact I have never climbed a mountain so high I needed special gear or an ice pick. I once got lost on a mountain in Jordan. I sat under an olive tree and watched a herd of goats wander by. It really helps put your life together…

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:43:59 +0000

Read this: http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/HumanDrift/sailing.html

By: Harland

Harland — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:42:16 +0000

Excellent article. I think the main point is the attitude towards life. You may not find options right near you that are exotic like mountain climbing. Or your budget (and wife) may preclude sky diving. But there is lots of adventure in just discovery. Seeing new things, visiting new places, meeting new people. Try simple things too:
New cuisines
dancing
cooking
new books
theatre
but I also add some classic – get the blood racing options:
urban spelunking, paintball, etc.
The idea is just thinking differently

By: Dave JOH

Dave JOH — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:41:00 +0000

This really is a great post and something that is a common problem with people today.

As someone who has done the “Bike across the country. What better way to see the US of A than upon your trusty steed, pedaling this nation’s highways and byways” part of the post…i can say, to not take it lightly. But you never do realize the simple beauty of this country until you cross it at 15 mph.